COVID-19 and Public Transportation
A Message from City Go
UPDATE: March 26, 2020
Here is a summary of what is running and what is closed during the statewide Stay At Home Order:
Boise GreenBike - all service suspended
Bronco Shuttle - all service suspended
CommuteRide vanpools - vanpools carrying essential workers continue to run. All other vanpools suspended
ValleyRide buses - modified service (see below)
ACCESS Paratransit - normal service
Public transit facilities closed to the public - including Main Street Station and Happy Day Transit Center
Valley Regional Transit takes additional steps to help prevent the spread of the COVID-19 crisis
Valley Regional Transit (VRT) remains strong in its commitment to help stop the spread of the COVOD-19 virus while providing essential transportation services to the public. On March 25, Governor Brad Little issued a statewide stay-at-home order. The public is urged to use public transportation only to access essential services such as medical appointments and grocery shopping. In response to the governor’s order, and to ensure social distancing and address declining ridership, VRT is implementing the following changes, effective Friday (March 27):
Our transit facilities will be closed to the public. The closures affect Main Street Station in downtown Boise; the Happy Day Transit Center in Caldwell; and the VRT administrative offices in downtown Meridian. Buses that staged inside Main Street Station will now pick up passengers along Main Street between 9th Street and the entrance to Main Street Station.
Bus route changes in Boise/Garden City:
VRT will temporarily suspend operating the following Boise/Garden City routes: 8X, 11, 16 and 17. These routes are being suspended due to extremely low ridership
VRT will provide hourly service on Boise routes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7A-B, 8, 12, 28, 29
Route 10 Hill Road will operate hourly service except between 6-9 a.m. and 3-6 p.m., when service will be every 30 minutes
Route 9 State Street will operate on 15-minute frequency all day
Bus route changes for intercounty service: o
Route 40 Nampa/Meridian Express will make three morning runs departing Nampa at 5:45 a.m., 6 a.m. and 6:15 a.m., and three afternoon runs departing at 2:45 p.m., 3 p.m. and 3:15 p.m. o Route 43 Caldwell Express will only make the 6:15 a.m. run and the 4:40 p.m. run.
Route 45 Boise State/CWI Express will operate only in the evenings, leaving CWI for three round trips at 4 p.m., 5:30 p.m. and 6:45 p.m.
Bus route changes for Nampa/Caldwell o VRT will temporarily suspend operating the route 55 CWI Shuttle due to the closure of the College of Western Idaho campus.
There are no changes planned for routes 42, 51, and 52
ACCESS paratransit services will operate as usual.
The VRT Help Desk (208-345-7433) will also continue to operate on its regular schedule.
Boise GreenBike, VRT’s bike sharing service, will suspend all operations while the stay-at-home order is in place. “While we would like to continue offering transportation alternatives, it is in the best interest of the citizens we serve and the people we employ to suspend operations temporarily,” said Dave Fotsch, Boise GreenBike director. Fotsch said while GreenBike staff have taken extraordinary measures to keep the bikes and kiosks clean and disinfected, ridership has declined steadily since the city of Boise implemented increasingly strict orders that have resulted in closed businesses, public buildings and playgrounds.
A reminder: one of the best tactics to fight the coronavirus is practicing social distancing, or remaining at least six feet away from others. To help achieve social distancing, VRT last week stopped collecting fares and asked riders to enter a bus from the rear doors when possible. Once inside the bus, passengers are being asked to sit as far away from other passengers as possible. If the service changes result in too many people on a bus to ensure adequate social distancing spacing, additional buses could be brought into service.
UPDATE: March 25, 2020
Governor Brad Little issued a Stay Home Order on March 25, 2020 because of the COVID-19 crisis. Public transportation is a vital service, however during the 21-day Stay Home Order, it should only be utilized at this time to reach essential services.
In response to Governor Little’s Stay Home Order, Commuteride will ground all vans EXCEPT those transporting military, medical, or infrastructure (i.e. power grid) workers. All other vans are suspended until further notice.
A message from Valley Regional Transit in response to the order:
Governor Brad Little on Wednesday issued a statewide stay-home order because of the COVID-19 crisis. Public transportation is vital because it provides access to jobs, medical care, and groceries. All state residents are being asked to limit travel to only essential services, whether in a personal vehicle or on public transit. We want to assure our customers that ValleyRide bus service and paratransit service will continue. But we are looking at service modifications that will help with social distancing and other tactics designed to prevent the spread of the virus. We will provide a complete update on what changes will occur in our system by noon Thursday (March 26).
City Go will keep you updated with any changes and modifications to public transportation services in real time. Please check back here for the most up-to-day information.
UPDATE: March 20, 2020
Valley Regional Transit postpones service improvements scheduled for March 30 and will not collect fares during the COVID-19 crisis
In the constantly evolving COVID-19 coronavirus crisis, Valley Regional Transit (VRT) is taking proactive steps to protect those who ride the buses and those who drive them. Starting Saturday (March 21) ValleyRide bus operators will not collect fares, and riders will be asked to enter and exit the buses using the rear door when and if it is possible. Once on the bus, passengers are encouraged to practice social distancing and sit as far away from other passengers as possible. The new policy helps to protect the drivers by distancing them from passengers at the fare box.
ValleyRide buses provide a vital lifeline service to those who can’t or don’t drive. Because of this, it has been the goal of VRT to continue transit services on a regular schedule. However, the agency has seen ridership decline an average of 25 percent since the beginning of March. Some routes have seen larger ridership drops than others, and there will come a time when the agency will have to make choices about which routes to continue operating and which ones to suspend.
“We want to continue providing service to those who rely on our buses to get to and from work,” said Kelli Badesheim, VRT executive director. “That’s why we will prioritize those routes serving the most people.”
Read the full press release here.
March 18, 2020
City Go Pass Delivery - Suspended
At City Go, the health and safety of our members and team is our top priority. As a precautionary measure to the coronavirus (COVID-19), we are temporarily suspending the delivery of member passes. Members may still order online or at Main Street Station and passes may still be picked up at Main Street Station.
Public Transportation and COVID-19
We know that many of you still need to get to work, grocery store and other necessary locations and we want to keep you updated on all public transportation services schedule, operation and preventative measures.
When using public tranportation we recommend you use high levels of sanitation - wash your hands before and after your ride - and practice social distancing. Try not to sit right next to another passenger whenever possible. Cough into your elbow and try not to touch your face. I know that last one is hard.
Valley Regional Transit (VRT) and COVID-19
Valley Ride buses will continue to operate on their normal schedule with the exception of Route 55, which serves College of Western Idaho. VRT has suspended service of Route 55 for the time being. Access buses are also operating their normal hours and service. All specialized transportation programs are continuing to operate as this time. Valley Regional Transit is taking many precautionary measures to sanitize the buses and keep riders safe including:
Two weeks ago, VRT installed portable hand sanitizer stations at all public facilities, including Main Street Station in Boise, the Happy Day Transit Center in Caldwell, and the administrative offices in Meridian.
Every bus in service is cleaned and disinfected every night. Cleaning crews are paying special attention to frequently touched areas, like handrails and seat backs.
Every bus out of service is cleaned and disinfected every night. Cleaning crews pay special attention to frequently touched areas, like handrails and seat backs.
Wiping down touch points at the facilities (e.g. hand rails).
VRT has placed posters in the buses with information on how riders can reduce the risk of spreading disease through covering their coughs and frequently washing their hands.
VRT staff will stay home if they feel ill.
In addition to the steps VRT has taken to reduce the spread of COVID-19, there are things you can do to protect yourself and others:
If you are feeling ill, don’t ride transit.
Practice social distancing.
Cover your cough with your sleeve or with a tissue.
Wash your hands frequently.
We encourage our customers to get information from reputable health organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, for the latest COVID-19 updates.
For information on Valley Ride buses and COVID-19 visit the Valley Regional Transit website.
CommuteRide and COVID-19
CommuteRide has made the decision to cancel May In Motion this year in an effort to do what is best for residents, businesses, and the region. The cancellation includes the kick-off, any on-site events that have been schedules, and the awards luncheon in June.
CommuteRide vanpools are currently still operating on their normal schedule. CommuteRide has issued the following recommendations for vanpool riders:
Any participants feeling unwell should not ride in the van.
If you have any contact with a verified COVID-19 case, do not ride in the van and let us know as soon as possible.
Any vanpool that has had contact with COVID-19, suspend your van route and let us know. We will ask that the van be vacated for 14 days and we will then work with you to get the van sanitized before returning to use.
Bronco Shuttle and COVID-19
Boise State University has made the decision to suspend all service of the Bronco Shuttle starting Saturday March 21, 2020 until further notice. The Grey Route will suspend service starting Thursday March 19th.
Boise State's Department of Public Safety will continue to offer security escorts on campus for students, faculty, and staff. For escorts please call 208-426-6911.
The Elder Street Park and Ride Shuttle will continue to run through April 17th, 2020. A planned discontinuation of the service is set for April 17th and that will continue as planned.
Boise GreenBike and COVID-19
All services of Boise GreenBike will continue into the foreseeable future. Out of an abundance of caution, GreenBike crew members have begun a process of disinfecting frequently touched surfaces on the bikes, the handgrips, brake levers, seat and seat clamp, U-bar lock and of course the keypad. We are also disinfecting the kiosk touch screens. While the overall risk of disease transmission from the bikes is low because they are exposed to the sun and elements every day, these extra procedures will help to protect the public from the coronavirus.
That said, the public should not use shared bicycles if they are sick. Practice good hand hygiene. Use hand sanitizer or wash your hands as soon as possible after using a shared bike. Avoid touching your face or eating without first washing your hands. For more information on prevention measures, visit the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
You've probably heard it a time or two by now, but we encourage everyone to practice good hygiene and social distancing while using public transportation. For more information on COVID-19, how to protect yourself, family, and workplace please visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website for the most up to date information.
The COVID-19 situation is changing rapidly and we will continue to provide you with updated information on any changes to the operations or procedures of the public transportation providers in response to the pandemic. We will update this page with any new information as it becomes available.
If you have any questions, we are always available by email at kjustice@valleyregionaltransit.org.
Best,
Kaite Justice
City Go Director